Best Ozone-Free Air Purifiers That Are 100% Safe to Use

In recent years, the market has seen a surge in air purifiers and various filtration technologies, making it more important than ever to choose carefully.

One of the primary concerns for many buyers is whether an air purifier produces ozone.

Traditional mechanical air purifiers that use standard HEPA filtration don’t generate ozone. However, many models include ionizers as an additional feature, which can potentially produce ozone.

Ozone may not be harmful under the allowed amounts. Regulations allow air purifiers to emit up to 0.050 parts per million (50 ppb) of ozone.

Many air purifiers with ionizers are way below the limit, but some people prefer air purifiers that won’t produce any ozone at all.

For those seeking ozone-free options, I have compiled a list of the best air purifiers that guarantee zero ozone emissions.

How Do You Know if an Air Purifier Produces Ozone?

There are several ways to determine whether an air purifier is ozone-free.

Most air purifiers on the market undergo testing based on various standards to estimate the amount of ozone they produce. You can verify this information in just a few clicks:

• List of CARB-Certified Air Cleaning Devices – The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been testing air purifiers for electrical safety and ozone emissions since 2010. CARB certification is required for manufacturers selling air purifiers in California. Their website provides a list of all tested models along with their results. If an air purifier has this certificate, it means that it produces ozone under allowed amounts or doesn’t produce it at all.
• Energy Star Certified Air Purifiers – What makes this list particularly valuable is its detailed display of ozone emissions. The Energy Star website shows exactly how much ozone each air purifier produces, measured in parts per billion (ppb).
• Measuring ozone emissions at home – Another option is to test an air purifier’s ozone output using specialized ozone meters.

Among all the air purifiers we’ve tested, the Airdog X3 produces the most ozone, measuring 0.015 parts per million (ppm) or 15 ppb. What’s importants is that this amount is well below the UL 867 standard limit of 0.050 ppm (50 ppb).

For comparison, the Blueair 211+ emits only 0.001 ppm (1.0 ppb), which is significantly lower than the Airdog. Most air purifiers that generate ozone, at least among those we’ve tested, fall within a similar range as the Blueair 211+.

Top 5 Ozone-free Air Purifiers

Among all the air purifiers we tested, we filtered out any that generate ozone and selected the top five that are completely ozone-free.

Just to be clear, I haven’t included any air purifiers with ionizers, even if they have the option to turn the ionizer on or off. Since the ionizer could still produce ozone when activated, I chose to exclude such models from this list.

Levoit Vital 200S – Best Ozone-free Option

The Levoit Vital 200S isn’t just the best ozone-free air purifier—it’s also one of the top three air purifiers we have tested.

With a CADR of 245 CFM (416 m³/h), it effectively covers rooms up to 380 sq. ft. (35 m²) and cleans the air 4.8 times per hour in a room of that size.

What I like about this air purifier is its mechanical filtration system, which consists of a pre-filter, main filter, and activated carbon filter. It doesn’t have an ionizer and won’t produce any ozone.

This can be easily verified by checking its Energy Star certification, where it is clearly stated that the Levoit Vital 200S produces 0.0 ppb of ozone.

In our performance tests, the Levoit Vital 200S delivered outstanding results. It is very quiet, especially at the lowest speeds, consumes low power, and comes with plenty of smart features.

I’m sure you won’t find a better ozone-free air purifier on the market.

Coway Airmega 100 – Best Compact & Budget

The Coway Airmega 100 is an air purifier we recently tested. It’s the smallest model in Coway’s air purifier lineup and one of the few that doesn’t produce ozone.

Unlike its larger counterpart, the Coway AP-1512HH, the Airmega 100 doesn’t have an ionizer, ensuring zero ozone emissions.

Most importantly, the Coway Airmega 100 is Energy Star and CARB certified.

This compact air purifier is perfect for bedrooms, kids’ rooms, small living rooms, or similar spaces up to 169 sq. ft. (15.7 m²).

It uses a three-stage filtration system, which includes a pre-filter, True HEPA filter, and carbon filter.

In our performance tests, the Airmega 100 delivered outstanding results. It is very quiet and features a well-optimized motor.

I would say this is the best compact and budget-friendly option available.

Austin Air HealthMate Jr. – Best for Smoke & VOCs

Another device on the list is a powerful Austin Air HealthMate Jr., which is the best ozone-free air purifier for tackling smoke, bad odors, and VOCs.

The Austin Air HealthMate Jr. is the best air purifier we have ever tested for gasses, but it lacks airborne particle removal efficiency.

It uses four-stage filtration technology consisting of Large Particle Pre-filter, Medium Particle Pre-filter, Activated Carbon and Zeolite, and True Medical Grade HEPA.

This air purifier doesn’t have any advanced features, a smart app, or anything similar. Everything this small device includes is a small control knob that’s used for controlling the motor fan speeds.

I don’t like the fact that the Austin Air HealthMate Jr. isn’t Energy Star nor CARB certified. But I think it’s because Austin doesn’t want to rely on Energy Star’s recommended CADR.

I would recommend this air purifier for small places of up to 185 sq. ft. (17 m²), especially if there is a high concentration of bad gasses to be neutralized.

Levoit Core 600S – Best for Large Rooms

The Levoit Core 600S is the best ozone-free air purifier for large rooms. With a CADR of 410 CFM (697 m³/h), it is ideal for spaces up to 635 sq. ft. (59 m²).

It comes packed with advanced features, works with the VeSync smart app, and uses a three-stage filtration system consisting of a pre-filter, main filter, and carbon filter.

In performance tests, it delivered outstanding results. In a 560 sq. ft. (52 m²) room, it improved air quality by approximately 96% in just 60 minutes at maximum speed.

It’s also Energy Star certified. In this certificate, it is confirmed that the Core 600S produces 0.0 ppb of ozone.

One important thing to note is that some versions of the Levoit Core 600S include Plasma filtration technology, which can potentially produce ozone. Be sure to carefully check the model before purchasing, as this information is always clearly stated.

Overall, the Levoit Core 600S is the best ozone-free air purifier for large rooms.

Shark NeverChange HP152 – Innovative Option to Try

I recently published a review of the Shark NeverChange air purifier. This device has created a buzz in the market due to its claim that the filters only need to be replaced once every 5 years.

The Shark NeverChange is Energy Star and CARB certified, has no ionizer, doesn’t produce ozone, and is 100% safe to use.

It uses a four-stage filtration system consisting of a Pre-Filter, Pet Particle Filter, Activated Carbon, and NanoSeal HEPA filter.

While it comes with many advanced features, it doesn’t have a smart app. However, it includes a built-in air quality sensor, air quality indicator, and auto mode.

In performance tests, it showed great results, and its motor is well-optimized. But, I believe the air quality sensor could be slightly more precise.

Overall, the Shark NeverChange HP152 is a very interesting option. It provides an attractive design and a long-lasting filter, which is considered one of the most durable on the market.

Side-by-side Comparison of the Best Ozone-free Air Purifiers

Scroll or swipe left/right to view the whole table.

FAQ on Air Purifiers That Won’t Generate Ozone

Final Thoughts

It is well known that some air purifiers with ionizers, UV lights, or similar filtration technologies can produce ozone as a byproduct.

However, since ozone can be irritating to many people and, in large quantities, is harmful even to healthy individuals, I have compiled a list of the best air purifiers that don’t produce ozone.

None of these devices produce ozone, as confirmed by Energy Star or CARB certifications.

In my opinion, the best ozone-free air purifier is the Levoit Vital 200S.

However, I have included several other excellent options, mainly with different specifications. For example, to neutralize bad odors, I would choose the Austin Air HealthMate Jr. over all the others.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.